Pressley agrees new deal as Dundee head coach

Steven Pressley has agreed a new deal as Dundee head coach, something he believes gives him and the club the 'stability' to move forward.

The 52-year-old was appointed at Dens Park last summer and secured their Scottish Premiership safety with an eighth-place finish.

He has been handed the new contract ahead of their league opener at Celtic on Monday, live on Sky Sports.

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"I'm delighted for a number of reasons," he told Sky Sports News.

"Firstly, from a personal perspective, my wife can now move up from Leamington and join me up here.

"I've been living away from the family for the past year and it's been difficult.

"Everybody thinks that football managers are immune to vulnerability and loneliness and we're certainly not.

"So it'll be really pleasing to have her up here supporting me.

"And of course, the continuity. The model that we're trying to create here at Dundee is very much a development model and, within that, stability is key.

"So for a number of reasons, I'm delighted to sign the new terms."

Dundee warmed up for the new season by scoring 14 goals in four games as they progressed from the group stage of the Scottish League Cup.

Although Pressley wants progress, he is against setting too many targets for his players.

"Although I spoke about that we needed to get to 38 points [last season], I never really put an objective or a goal for the team.

"My immediate thoughts are continuous improvement in the team. We work very hard on the training ground. We work hard on the detail.

"Our staff work exceptionally hard in the background, improving them physically.

"All I want to see is the players continue to improve on a daily and weekly basis. If we get that, then I'm satisfied."